Midtown’s Station K sold without conditions

Residents unhappy, but pledge to fight on to protect building

By Michelle Ervin

Published: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, 09:49 AM

Canada Post recently confirmed that it has sold Station K to a developer, despite the spirited protests of local residents led by Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Mike Colle. He said he was appalled to learn that Canada Post didn’t at least impose a condition of sale to protect the art deco building from being radically altered.

“For it to be sold like a piece of parking lot is really disgusting,” Colle said. “This is from a corporation who claims to be in the business of history — their stamps [commemorating] the Grey Cup, the War of 1812 — well, that’s a crock.”

Station K is located on a national historic site, once home to Montgomery’s Tavern, which served as William Lyon Mackenzie’s headquarters during the Upper Canada Rebellion (Dec. 7 marks the 175th anniversary).

Tom Cohen, chair of the Eglinton Park Residents Association, was unhappy about the sale but indicated that the battle to save Station K isn’t over. He would like to see public access to the building maintained.

“Since we’ve lost this round, we need to fight like crazy on the next round,” Cohen said. “We need all the help we can get — from the city, from the province, from wherever help can be found — to keep this building from slipping into oblivion.”

“Since we lost this round, we need to fight like crazy on the next round.”

Now that Station K isn’t under federal ownership, it can be designated as heritage. Since Toronto City Council has already signalled its intent to do so, the sale has triggered this process. Coun. Karen Stintz also passed a motion to designate the open space in front of Station K a public square.

Jack Winberg, president of Rockport Group, which purchased the site, said he’s comfortable with both measures taken by Stintz.

“We agree that there aren’t very many public open spaces on Yonge Street and that’s why I was attracted to the site,” he said. “It’s not going to be just another condo.”